Category Archives: Competitions

Okay the judges are retiring to consider your suggestions for the name of our new vanilla and rhubarb rooibos tea.

As we explained here, the winner will get a free Afternoon Tea for two (worth £28), a gourmet pouch of tea emblazoned with the winning name (worth about £5) and a free pot of that blend whenever they visit Metrodeco in the next year.

There were so many excellent entries, our panel of experts has asked for an extra 24 hours to deliberate.

Don’t be frightened to try and sway their decision in the comments section below!

Will was probably thinking about the great-tasting coffee – but a man with his digital know-how could not have failed to notice the inventive things these delectable and modern emporia are doing with social media.

Will mentioned Coffee@33 in Trafalgar Street, a delightful and quirky stop-off for anyone heading from the train station to North Laine – or coming back. Coffee@33 has a useful entry on Foursquare to which at least a dozen people have recently ‘checked in’, many urging visitors to try their apparently wonderful ‘flat white’. So I checked in and tried it. Take my word for it – it’s velvety smooth and definitely worth trying. But I’d probably never have known without eavesdropping on the online conversations that enticed me to that shop.

Another of Will’s favourites was our near neighbours at the Red Roaster, who have a vibrant Facebook appreciation group with 183 members, a veritable community of coffee-lovers online. Participants post photos, ask questions of the coffee house’s owners and swap advice on the best product (the Café au Lait is popular). The guys at the Roaster have learned a golden rule of social media – letting go. By that I mean they encourage conversations they do not control about their product, a clear departure from ‘broadcasting’ messages with posters, adverts and press releases. Sure, the odd unfavourable comment crops up – but most people are praise-worthy and the remarks are all the more credible because they come from real customers, not from the owners. Continue reading →

Egg-cellent result! Robert scoops his prize while the Argus Appeal gets a donation

Apparently, anything is good if it’s made of chocolate. Well, that’s what comedienne Jo Brand once said, walking, breathing proof – if ever you needed it – that there can be no negative effects from enthusiastic consumption. Uhhm, hang on….

So we reckon Brighton resident Robert Brooks (pictured) will have a lot of goodness in his front room at the moment. You see Robert won the raffle for our giant Easter egg and he picked it up today.

Whooooah, before you slam your laptop shut in indignant jealousy, Robert’s not going to scoff the 10kg monster himself. He’s going to hold a party for his son and dozens of the toddler’s young friends in Queen’s Park. Many of those who bought tickets said they would put the egg to a charitable use – and we’re really glad it will put lots of little smiles on little faces.

It also made £112 for the Argus Appeal, which supports good causes across Sussex – so, all in all, that big oval ball of calories has brought a fair amount of joy to those around us.

Thanks to Holly from Chocoholly, who made the egg (you can see that amazing process here in our YouTube film). Thanks also to everyone who took part in the raffle – and commiserations. Commiserations, that is, to everyone except Robert. But Robert deserves a bit of luck because he’s obviously a good egg.